Jade quickly donned her workout outfit, finding comfort in its familiar snug fit. "Snug as always, if nothing else, I suppose," she mused, appreciating at least one constant amidst the whirlwind of recent events.
Stepping out the door, Jade was taken aback by the transformation of the previously empty halls. Now, they buzzed with life and activity, with people bustling back and forth.
They carried folders and spoke with each other as if everything was perfectly normal, so unlike the solitude she had grown accustomed to.
Jade thought to herself, "It’s not too many people though, a good 20 people in total going in different directions. But I have never seen any of these people since I have been here. What in the--"
Jade’s thought ended when a hand landed on her shoulder. A voice followed with, "You must be new here, just after." The sudden contact and the odd phrasing jolted Jade.
Turning around, Jade’s gaze fell on a hand unlike any she had seen before. It was vibrant orange, adorned with lines of fur that extended up to the shoulder, leading to a face that looked surprisingly human under a hood.
Their eyes were orange, matching the glow of their hand, and they offered her a warm smile.
Jade had seen monsters, demons, and impossible things by now, but a friendly stranger in the hall still knocked her off balance.
"I--I’m... I’m sorry, who are you exactly, and what do you mean by ’new’? I have been here a little bit already, actually," Jade said, nervousness slipping into her voice.
She looked the person up and down, surprise plain on her face.
"This is your first morning after the ritual, is it not? That’s why you’re able to see us now, right?" The person, still smiling, placed a finger on Jade’s chin, gently turning her cheek as if to get a better look at her.
Jade, still trying to grasp the situation, replied, "Yes, but why can I see you normally in all your... orange or redness?"
The person laughed softly, their amusement clear. "They really don’t explain anything anymore, I suppose."
Jade’s confusion only deepened, her hands clasping together as she tried to make sense of his words.
"Oh, well, pretty much as I understand it, normal humans overall can’t see us.
After we go through the ritual, we lose the ability to be seen by normal humans until you pass some promotion test or reach a furthered state where you can control your own soul," he explained.
Scratching the top of her head, Rosa seemed contemplative. "I’m not entirely sure how it works. After the ritual, everything really becomes just mission after mission.
You have little time to stop and think about it," she admitted, a note of resignation in her voice.
Shifting the tone, Rosa brightened and extended her hand, introducing herself with a warm smile. "But I guess none of that matters at the moment. The name is Rosa Yuisui! It’s a pleasure to meet you."
Jade, reciprocating the gesture, shook her hand. "It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Rosa. The name is Jade."
Curiosity got the better of her. Jade asked nervously, "By the way, is the fur real?" The question came out before she could soften it, half curious and half nervous.
Rosa, a bit shocked, stated, "Oh, yeah, though it was only active when I was powering my ’ability,’ but these ears seem to always be here, so I wear a hood to avoid any weird looks," taking off her black hood to reveal little stubby ears in the form of mini fox ears.
Jade clasped her hands together tighter, unable to help but think, "Don’t ask to pet. Don’t ask to pet. Oh my gosh, those look so adorable."
Rosa studied Jade for a moment. "You sure do look nervous. You okay, girly?"
"Y-Yes, I actually have to be off. Though it was a pleasure to meet you, I hope to find out my ability soon," Jade said, giving a bow before turning around and walking down toward the path.
Rosa called back out to Jade and stated, "Yes, the ears are very soft by the way. I’ll let you pet them sometime," giving a smirk to Jade.
Jade, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, gently slapped them as she turned away from Rosa, offering a shy wave before continuing down the hallways.
The sound of her footsteps echoed softly against the polished floors, mingling with the distant murmur of voices from nearby classrooms.
As she walked, Jade noticed the absence of others with fur-like features. Curiosity stirred in her, prompting her to muse silently, ’What a bubbly personality.
Every day I’m here, though, I get 1 or 2 questions answered, and 6 more seem to pop up.’
At last, she reached the designated spot that Gojaro had mentioned. Pushing open the door, she found the white-haired Gojaro skillfully swinging a massive claymore through the air.
The metallic clang of the blade reverberated in the training room, accompanied by the faint scent of oil and sweat.
Jade’s gaze wandered around the room, taking in the assortment of weapons neatly arranged on a sturdy rack. The gleam of polished steel caught her eye, alongside the intricate carvings adorning the handles of some of the swords.
A faint breeze brushed against her skin, carrying with it the faint scent of leather and metal.
On the rack, an eclectic mix of weaponry stood proudly, ranging from sleek bows to gleaming swords, and smaller, mysterious implements that piqued Jade’s curiosity.
Noticing Jade’s entrance, Gojaro paused his workout, setting down the sword with a clatter. "Ah, you’re here. You were a bit late, so I started working out a bit."
Jade, still feeling a bit bewildered, replied, "Sorry, I got a bit delayed by all the new faces outside. And this lady named Rosa was definitely not something I was expecting to see, to say the least."
Gojaro, giving a bit of a chuckle, stated, "She sure can be a bubbly person."